D&D 3E/3.5 Which 3.5 spells aren't improvements

[Scion]

hey now, if they were going to make such bad changes anyway they could have at least made them first level spells. That would at least place them more in the proper place for their power level

 

[Psion]

Now, now folks.

It's obvious that some things were never a problem in some people's games. In fact, the fact that most people posting here see something was too nerfed is an indication that we don't see something as bad as WotC.

I think it's safe to say that the sorts of changes and power levels we are comfortable with vary from DM to DM.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

While we might argue about he 1min/lv duration, the 1hour/lv duration was clearly too much. Especially at higher levels, we'd see a lot of clerics using some of their 2nd level slots to increase str, dex and con (Cat's Grace isn't on the cleric list, but you get it in a domain. Otherwise it was str and con) at the beginning of the day. Those who weren't doing that were using 3rd level slots for extended, 4th for empowered or 5th for maximized. Why ever waste an item slot on items for that? I could get pearls of power for less money (cast the spells in the morning, recall them and then just use the spells to convert them into cure spells).

They should also have toned down Greater Magic Weapon, in fact.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Books used last session: Core books, d20 Modern, Second World Sourcebook, Adventure I, Small Worlds and Exiles doc, Pact System doc, Ultramodern Firearms, Arsenal, Blood & Gut, Draconomicon, Book of Dragons, AEG Dragons, Nyambe, Ultimate Prestige Classes, Quintessential Sorcerer, Spells & Magic, Book of Eldritch Might III. What books do you actually use?

The Original D&D basic set, or at least it seems to me that way since we haven't played forever.

 

[Darklone]

They should also have toned down Greater Magic Weapon, in fact.

They did. +1/4 levels is not that bad as it used to be. I like the spell now.

I would have preferred to see the same change for Greater Magic Vestment and Divine Favor, though.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

They did. +1/4 levels is not that bad as it used to be. I like the spell now.

I would have preferred to see the same change for Greater Magic Vestment and Divine Favor, though.

The 1/4 wasn't that much of a change. A shortening of duration would put it more in line with the other buffs. This way, it's far too easy to emulate magical weapons (and armor)

 

[Thanee]

The only changes that are acceptable are Haste, Harm, Heal, Meteor Swarm, Ray of Enfeeblement and Gate. Everything else is mostly worse than it was in 3.0.

You like the overpowered buff spells of 3.0?

Not saying, that the change was a bit too much (10 min./level is good), but the 3.0 versions were simply insane.

Bye
Thanee

 

[shilsen]

They did. +1/4 levels is not that bad as it used to be. I like the spell now.

I would have preferred to see the same change for Greater Magic Vestment and Divine Favor, though.

Greater Magic Vestment? There ain't no such spell Magic Vestment, however, has had the same change as GMW, i.e. the +1 per 4 levels.

 

[beaver1024]

You like the overpowered buff spells of 3.0?

Not saying, that the change was a bit too much (10 min./level is good), but the 3.0 versions were simply insane.

Bye
Thanee

Why was it insane?

 

[Will]

Sort of repeating, but in my experience buffs often caused a problem. If you could, you cast them every day, every morning.

Problem #1: Since the amount was random, I got to adjust my character sheet in random ways depending on what I rolled. I couldn't just jot down 'attack without and with Bull's Strength' or whathaveyou.

Problem #2: Convincing wizards to blow all that magic on the party. People don't enjoy being a walking magic item. In higher levels, of course, a handful of low level spells was no big deal. I ended up getting a mage cohort just so I didn't have to ask for buffs, particularly greater magic weapon.

Unfortunately, while I don't mind the duration in 3.5, there is one problem. Prep time. I don't like the 'screw' of "do you cast a spell to kill/disable the enemy, or do you spend a round of combat making one party member slightly better?"

I hate that.

What I really wish was that there was a greater ability to set up contingency effects on people. Cast some spells such that they kick in at some future point. I duno, maybe that would be also broken, but I know that the prep required for buffs means they are fairly rare.